Gambero Rosso celebrates Ragusa: Enogastronomic Delights of Baroque Sicily

The territory of Ragusais renowned for its Baroque architecture, protected by theUNESCO. This architectural beauty also extends to the neighbouring municipalities of Modica, Ispica, Scicli and Santa Croce Camerina. Over the centuries, this land has been inhabited by Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans and many other peoples who have left important evidence of their presence, both in history and in food and wine traditions. Since antiquity, this region has been considered among the most fertile in all of Sicily.

It is to this land that the Gambero Rossotogether with the Terra Barocca Gal (Local Action Group), wanted to dedicate a project to disseminating and enhancing its natural, cultural and food and wine riches, a veritable treasure chest of small and great treasures. The project kicks off with the special "Enjoy Barocco', enclosed with the May 2023 issue 376 of the monthly Gambero Rosso magazine. Through 76 pages and 10 chapters, the monthly magazine celebrates Baroque Sicily, recounting not only its food and wine excellence, but also its monuments, natural beauty, beaches and sea.

Citrus fruits

Sicilian citrus fruits, treasures of international renown, are a gift of this land. It seems that it was the Arabs who first introduced citrus fruits to the island. Thanks to their knowledge in extracting the essences, the Arabs originated the first sorbets, paving the way for a tradition that has become deeply rooted in the local food and wine culture.

Wines

Many of the great Sicilian wines come from this land. Here, the Greeks introduced not only their grape varieties, but also the characteristic method of growing vines, known as 'ad alberello'. Among the grape varieties that may have arrived with the Greeks are, in addition to Greco and Grecanico, Nero d'Avola and Frappato. Thanks to these vines, Cerasuolo di Vittoria is produced, the only wine in Sicily to have obtained the DOCG denomination of controlled and guaranteed origin. Grillo also finds an ideal habitat in the rich soils of the Ragusa region, which is one of Sicily's best suited for wine production.

Cheeses

Of considerable importance in the Ragusa area are cheese productions. Among the most important cheeses in the area is Ragusano DOP, one of the oldest in Sicily. A flourishing trade developed around this cheese that already in the 16th century went beyond the island's borders, being exported all over the world and becoming a gastronomic symbol not only of Sicily, but of the entire Bel Paese.

Oils

A symbol of the Mediterranean diet, extra virgin olive oil is produced in abundance in the province of Ragusa. In particular, the Monti Iblei PDO extra virgin olive oil, thanks to the perfect integration of terroir and olive varieties such as Tonda Iblea and Moresca, reaches exceptional levels of quality.

Chocolate

One cannot speak of Ragusa without mentioning Modica chocolate, renowned for its goodness and authenticity. This product has very ancient origins and dates back to the period of Spanish rule in Sicily, when the occupiers introduced its manufacture in the 'County of Modica', at that time the largest centre of the Kingdom of Sicily. Unlike in the rest of the world, the chocolate produced in Modica has never undergone industrial processing, maintaining an authentic flavour over the centuries based on the purity of the ingredients and craftsmanship in its production. This chocolate has been recognised with the IGP Protected Geographical Indication designation.

It would be impossible to list all the traditional products linked to this territory, which thanks to its soil and climate characteristics manages to produce something unique. It is no coincidence that this region has marked the rebirth of great Sicilian cuisine thanks to the efforts of talented chefs. Ragusa is a place to discover and savour, where nature, culture and food and wine come together in a fascinating combination. Through the project "Enjoy Barocco"promoted by Gambero Rosso and Gal Terra Barocca, the world will be able to get to know and appreciate the wonders of this land, its authentic flavours and millenary history.

To further promote the dissemination of the special, Gambero Rosso has made it free downloadable.